Female Pencak Silat athlete from Nghe An and the 'sweet fruits' of her passion.
(Baonghean.vn) - With passion, perseverance, and the effort to overcome difficulties in training, female Pencak Silat athlete Nguyen Thi Thanh An has achieved many impressive results and become a highly anticipated athlete of the Nghe An Pencak Silat team.
Passion and hard work
Born in 2007 in Dinh Son commune (Anh Son district), Thanh An came from a family with no one involved in sports, but she showed athletic talent from a young age.
With a physique and agility far superior to her peers, Thanh An always stood out on the training grounds and in competitions. In the 7th grade, Thanh An's mother enrolled her in karate classes at a dojo in the district.
At the end of 8th grade, during a karate performance at an event in Anh Son town, Thanh An caught the attention of Mr. Tran Trong Cuong, who was then the head of the Pencak Silat department. He sought her out and offered her a place on the provincial Pencak Silat team. Although Thanh An's mother was initially hesitant about her daughter pursuing martial arts, she eventually agreed due to An's enthusiasm and determination.
In August 2021, Thanh An began intensive training at the Nghe An Sports Training and Competition Center. In the early days of learning this martial art originating from Indonesia, despite facing many difficulties, Thanh An quickly demonstrated her talent through each exercise. She always tried to perform each movement given by her coach multiple times to master it.
“In the beginning of practicing Pencak Silat, due to my tall stature, I was quite slow and lacked mental fortitude. However, coaches Trinh Thi Mui and Phan Thi Huyen always encouraged and patiently guided me through even the smallest details. In particular, I will always remember Phan Thi Huyen's words: 'Keep striving, I will always be there for you,'” Thanh An shared.
Thanh An also stated that, not only in martial arts but in all other sports, to succeed and achieve glory, one must have rigorous training, a burning desire, and unwavering determination.
To achieve good results in each competition, one needs to go through a rigorous weight-cutting process. Besides that, injuries are unavoidable in martial arts training. There were days after training when I was in pain, homesick, and wanted to go home, but with the encouragement of my teachers, family, and friends, and seeing the achievements of the senior athletes, I persevered every day, kept getting back up to overcome myself."
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Pencak Silat female athlete Nguyen Thi Thanh An
After more than 10 months of training, in early March 2022, Nguyen Thi Thanh An was selected to join the Nghe An provincial team to participate in the 2022 National Pencak Silat Club Championship held in Cao Bang province, competing in the sparring category. Despite her inexperience and lack of mental fortitude in her first major tournament, the 15-year-old unexpectedly won a Bronze Medal. This first medal was a significant morale boost, giving the female athlete from Anh Son district the confidence to pursue her martial arts career.
Five months later, Nguyen Thi Thanh An participated in another major national tournament, the 2022 National Youth Pencak Silat Championship, held in Da Nang city. Similar to the previous National Pencak Silat Club Championship, Thanh An was selected by the coaching staff of the Nghe An Provincial Pencak Silat team to participate for learning and experience. However, the young female athlete once again won a Bronze Medal.
Since then, Nguyen Thi Thanh An has been the focus of advanced training in the 78 kg weight category by the coaching staff of the Nghe An Pencak Silat team, aiming for better achievements.
Gold Medals
In March 2023, Nguyen Thi Thanh An participated for the second time in the National Pencak Silat Club Championship when the tournament was held in Ho Chi Minh City. The tournament featured changes to the striking rules, and despite only familiarizing herself with the new rules for two sessions before the competition, the 16-year-old athlete excelled, winning the Gold Medal in the 78kg weight category for the 15-17 age group.
In July 2023, at the National Youth Pencak Silat Championship, Thanh An also excellently won the Gold Medal. With her signature moves of takedowns, outside catches, and leg locks, this female athlete has affirmed her position in the 78kg weight category for the 15-17 age group. Following these impressive Gold Medals, in January 2024, Nguyen Thi Thanh An was called up to the national youth team.
In early April, atNational Pencak Silat Club Championship 2024Held on home soil, Thanh An continued to win another Gold Medal. “This tournament allowed me to showcase my strengths and signature moves. Through this competition, I realized that besides good technical and tactical preparation, an athlete who wants to win must have a strong mentality, a resilient will, and not give up in the face of difficulties. This is also an experience that will help me go further in the future,” Nguyen Thi Thanh An shared.
Thanh An stated that her future plan is to train hard to win gold medals at national tournaments and maintain her place in the national youth team to participate in international competitions.
Nguyen Thi Thanh An is an athlete with a good physique, especially a very high level of determination and a strong sense of discipline in training and daily life. Therefore, although she was initially a little weaker technically compared to her peers, she has made very rapid progress since then. In addition, An is also very open, sociable, and caring towards her teammates.”
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Pencak Silat coach Phan Thi Huyen (Nghe An Sports Training and Competition Center)
Coach Phan Thi Huyen also stated that, about 10 years ago, Nghe An's Pencak Silat team had outstanding athletes such as Truong Van Mao and Vo Thi Hue… However, in recent years, the development of this sport has slowed down compared to other provinces, cities, and sectors nationwide. Many athletes have reached their peak but, due to family and economic circumstances, have requested to retire and no longer pursue a career in sports, so the current pool of athletes in the sport is quite young.
But with the passion and efforts of young athletes like Lo Van Viet, Cao Thuy Tien, Chu Thi Phuong Thao, and especially Nguyen Thi Thanh An, Nghe An Pencak Silat is gradually improving its performance at tournaments. Currently, the coaching staff is trying to prepare the best possible team for the national tournaments this year, prioritizing athletes with the potential to compete for medals, while also creating opportunities for young athletes to compete, gain experience, and improve their professional skills.
